Released July 4, 1994 | Format CD single Length 3:06 (album version) | |
Writer(s) Sterling Whipple, Tony Martin, John Greenebaum | ||
"Third Rock from the Sun" is a song written by Sterling Whipple, Tony Martin and John Greenebaum, and recorded by American country music artist Joe Diffie. It was released in July 1994 as the lead single and title track from his album Third Rock from the Sun. The song became Diffie's third Number One single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart. The song also became his first number one hit since "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" in 1991.
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Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song unfavorably, saying that the title is ripped off from Jimi Hendrix (Third Stone from the Sun) and the "twisted plot falls somewhere between "Smokey and the Bandit" and Back to the Future." She goes on to say that the song "somehow manages to obscure even Diffie's world-class voice in a confusing avalanche of lyrics." Jim Ridley of New Country magazine described the song with favor, saying that the song was "the funniest and most jaw-dropping string of calamaties...since Bo Diddley bungled his way through 'Cops and Robbers'."
Music video
The music video was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered in mid-1994.
Chart positions
"Third Rock from the Sun" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of July 16, 1994.